(Updated 1:30 a.m., Feb. 13) NORTH COVENTRY — Blood smeared the wall of a staircase leading to a second-story apartment where a fire occurred and a homicide victim’s body was discovered Tuesday night.

“There was a homicide in North Coventry here today,” said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan. “Chester County Detectives and North Coventry Police are investigating.”

A male victim was removed from Apartment 127 of the Hanover Garden Apartments complex after midnight in a white body bag on a stretcher by members of the Chester County Coroner’s Office.

“We won’t be releasing the identity of the deceased until we’ve had time to notify all the family members,” Hogan said.

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According to Hogan, no one was in custody following the incident . He said no details would be released of a possible suspect.

Authorities did not release by what means the homicide occurred. There was also no indication of why it may have happened.

Initially, sources said, police were dispatched for a possible domestic.

The units that responded some time after 7 p.m. discovered a fire at the apartment. The North Coventry Fire Company responded and put the fire out.

Investigators could be seen shining flashlights and moving around through a stretch of windows of the apartment. Soot covered the inside of the glass and there was also soot or char marks on a wall inside.

How the fire started was not disclosed Tuesday night.

Fire marshals from North Coventry, Chester County and the state responded and aided in the investigation.

The Chester County Detectives’ arson investigator was also visible inside examining the scene.

Outside, investigators marked presumed spots of blood on the pavement leading to the apartment’s front door with numbered evidence markers. A police K-9 unit from North Coventry did a sweep of the area looking for evidence from the crime and a dog from the Philadelphia Fire Department arrive late Tuesday to also do a sweep outside before proceeding into the apartment.

Blood appeared to be smeared heavily toward the bottom of the stairs along the white wall inside. Running down the side of the stairs farther up there also seemed to be dried blood.

North Coventry Fire Chief Terry Hipple and a few members of his crew extended a ladder to the apartment building’s roof. Hipple and a North Coventry Police Officer climbed up and searched for evidence there.

Additionally, police could be seen searching a nearby Dumpster and the graveyard across Route 724.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan confirmed Tuesday night that the death of a victim in a fire at Hanover Garden Apartments is being called a homicide.

Hogan said Tuesday night that no one was in custody at press time, and the investigation is continuing.

The Chester County Coronor was among those responding to the fire, along with North Coventry Police and Fire Company, at Unit 127 in the complex at about 7:15 p.m.

Chester County detectives, including arson investigators are still investigating the scene as of press time, but there was no further details on exactly what occurred.

Blood was visible on the sidewalk leading to the fire scene, and evidence markers had been placed.

Earlier version of this story

The Chester County Coronor was among those responding to a fire at the Hanover Garden Apartments in North Coventry Tuesday night.

North Coventry Police and Fire Company responded to the fire at Unit 127 in the complex at about 7:15 p.m.

Chester County detectives, including arson investigators were investigating the scene as of press time, but there was no official confirmation on exactly what occurred. Also present were the fire marshals from North Coventry and Chester County.

Blood was visible on the sidewalk leading to the fire scene, and evidence markers had been placed.